Oliver’s Village Cafe in Belsize Lane, which was set up in 2008 by an autistic man’s family to provide “an environment for him to learn and work in”, is among the latest businesses to be burgled.

Mohammed Shafiq, whose shop the Late Late Store lost thousands of pounds in cash and stock in a raid on Boxing Day, said: “I put more locks on, I put in very tough glass and I’m thinking to put another shutter inside, but at the end of the day the police need to get those people. They have to get this gang.”

On December 21, thieves stole a painting by British artist Ceri Richards, entitled ­Arsenale in Venice, from Sylvester Fine Art. Owner Andrea Sylvester said: “This spate of incidents does rather suggest that there should be CCTV around the village to ­provide additional and necessary security.”